CDG to Central Paris: RER B, Bus 9517, or Taxi in 2026?

Which terminal are you flying into?

CDG has three passenger terminal complexes: Terminal 1, Terminal 2 (split into 2A through 2G), and Terminal 3. They are not within walking distance of each other. The free CDGVAL automated shuttle connects all terminals and runs continuously inside the airport perimeter, so check your terminal on your boarding pass before you commit to a route into Paris.

The RER B serves two separate stations at CDG. Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1 serves Terminal 3 on foot and Terminal 1 via the CDGVAL shuttle. Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV serves Terminals 2A to 2G, with an additional shuttle (the N2) linking it to Terminal 2F. Getting the station wrong adds a shuttle ride you did not plan for.

How does the RER B compare on time and cost?

The RER B is the direct rail link between CDG and central Paris, run jointly by RATP and SNCF. According to Paris Aéroport's RER B page, the journey takes around 25 minutes to Gare du Nord and about 40 minutes to Denfert-Rochereau, with trains every 10 to 20 minutes on weekdays. The single fare is EUR 14 (the "Ticket Paris Région <> Aéroports"), and a Navigo pass covering all zones is also accepted.

First departure from Paris-Gare du Nord is at 04:53, and the last train from Gare du Nord toward CDG leaves at 00:15; from the CDG 2 TGV station, trains run from 4:50 a.m. to 11:50 p.m. Major engineering works are scheduled on the RER B during 2026, so check the line's current disruption notices before you travel, particularly late at night or early in the morning.

Luggage is not a problem on the RER B itself — there is no size restriction and no barrier gate designed against suitcases — but the stations have stairs and escalators, and lifts are not guaranteed to be working. If you are travelling with a stroller, a wheelchair, or multiple large bags, allow extra time and expect to carry your luggage up or down at least one flight.

What replaced the Roissybus?

If you have researched this route before, you may remember the direct Roissybus. It was discontinued on 1 March 2026. In its place, the Express 9517 bus now runs between Roissypôle (at CDG) and Saint-Denis, connecting to metro line 14 at Saint-Denis-Pleyel for the rest of the journey into Paris.

This is a genuinely different trip shape: instead of one direct bus into the city centre, you now take the 9517 bus to Saint-Denis-Pleyel (about 45 minutes) and then metro line 14 onward, for a combined travel time of 50 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes from central Paris. The ticket costs EUR 2.55 on board by card, at a machine, or on your phone, and is included in a monthly or annual Navigo pass. Buses run from about 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., every 15 minutes at peak times and every 30 minutes off-peak on weekdays.

Compare the main public transport options at a glance below.

What does the taxi flat fare actually cover?

Official taxis at CDG charge a fixed rate set by the Paris Police Prefecture rather than a metered fare, so the price does not change with traffic. As of the 2026 tariff confirmed on Service-Public.fr, the flat rate is EUR 56 between CDG and the Right Bank (Rive Droite) and EUR 65 between CDG and the Left Bank (Rive Gauche), in both directions. Journey time by taxi is typically 35 to 60 minutes depending on traffic.

The flat rate covers the ride itself and standard luggage, but it does not automatically cover everything. A same-day phone or app booking adds a EUR 4 surcharge, and booking ahead of the day of travel adds EUR 7. A supplement of EUR 5.50 applies from a fifth passenger onward. If your destination is outside the Right Bank/Left Bank zone — a suburb, Disneyland Paris, or Versailles, for instance — the driver switches to the metered rate instead of the flat fare.

Ride-hailing services (Uber and similar apps) also operate at CDG, with dedicated ride-app pick-up points signposted at some terminals, including Terminal 1 and Terminal 2B. Confirm your pick-up point in the app once you land, since it does not always match the taxi rank.

Is a private transfer or shared shuttle worth it?

A pre-booked private transfer guarantees a fixed price and a driver waiting with your name, which removes the taxi-queue uncertainty entirely — useful for a very early flight, a very late arrival, or a group with a lot of luggage. Paris Aéroport lists shared taxis, motorcycle taxis, and private shuttles as authorised alternatives to a standard taxi, provided the operator is licensed.

A shared taxi splits the flat-rate cost between passengers heading to a similar area and must be booked in advance. A motorcycle taxi is the fastest door-to-door option (around 25-40 minutes) but only takes cabin luggage and one passenger. Private shuttles suit larger groups or excess baggage, at a price agreed before you travel. In every case, confirm the total price and what it includes before you get in the vehicle — flat rates apply only to the standard taxi fare, not to private operators, who set their own prices.

Before you leave arrivals

Confirm your terminal and, if you are taking the RER B, which of the two CDG stations serves it — getting this wrong costs you a CDGVAL ride you did not plan for. If you are taking the bus, remember it is now the 9517 via Saint-Denis-Pleyel, not a direct Roissybus. And if you are taking a taxi, walk past anyone who approaches you before the marked rank: the flat fare and the safety guarantees that come with it only apply to a taxi picked up at the official queue.